Messi doubled Barca's lead five minutes later when he got on
the end of Ivan Rakitic's clever through ball to slot home with 21 minutes
played. Luis Muriel pulled one back for the visitors before Messi's
impressive free-kick doubled his tally for the evening and regained his side's
two-goal lead. Ante Budimir grabbed another for Sampdoria in the 78th
minute but the European giants held on for the victory ahead of their
two-legged Spanish Super Cup clash with
Sevilla.

Before the match on Wednesday, new signings Denis Suarez,
Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Digne and Andre Gomes were presented to the Nou Camp crowd
after arriving this summer.